Silk Plant Info
Archive for October, 2009
Making Sense With Artificial Flower Arrangements And Three Places To Purchase
Banana Table Top Silk Tree
It is always a good idea to have plants and flowers around the home, office or in public places. There has been a scientific study proving that flowers have the unique ability to impact us as humans in our emotional state and have a positive effect on our well being. When acquiring fresh flowers on a weekly basis, it can for many, become too much expense very quickly. This is why you will see some places without any flora décor what so ever and it has an uncomfortable feeling.
Since fresh flowers last a very short time you might opt to go with artificial flower arrangements. The technology that is being used in the production of the silk plants has proven and increased realism beyond belief. So, maintaining some kind of floral décor is much more affordable and cost effective when figured over a longer time period by using silk flower arrangements.
To help keep us on track for our human emotional well being (as scientific studies have shown), we will be further ahead by choosing top quality products for our replacements. They can be purchased from arts and craft stores, retail florists, or on the internet. When buying from retail places, you are able to ask clerks questions. So don’t be shy about asking questions to the internet supplier also. When purchasing on line you will have to wait a short time to get the delivery, but the savings can be very much worth the wait. You will be able to choose selections from silk flower arrangements, silk plants, silk trees and also silk holiday arrangements.
Whichever way you decide to take care of your décor, we know you will have fun with it. By using plants and flowers you will not only be helping yourself feel better emotionally, but all of those who come into contact with your well thought out décor will benefit also.
Live Plant Cost Versus Artificial Plants In Commercial Places
I have been in many commercial buildings of all kinds over several years and never really took a close look at how the décor was really done until about 10 years ago. I’m not dead. I just wasn’t paying that close of attention to such things as decorations that adds a warmth to the area. A friend of mine that has several retail commercial buildings brought it to my attention and we were talking about cost of doing many different things in business. We all know that the bottom line has to be watched like a hawk if we are going to be successful to any degree weather it is our personal home budgeting or commercial budgeting as he was involved in.
He was saying that he had to do things that made dollar sense and watch so much closer than ever before. There were two things that stood out to me and one had to do with lighting. We know that there is a lot of lighting in these buildings but we just don’t think of the amount of dollars it takes up. By changing many of the lighting fixtures he was able to put in energy saving light bulbs that cut his cost about 40 to 47 percent. With the changes he made he was way ahead after only 2 years. Now this makes real since and most people have gone to energy saving light bulbs in their homes, so we can feel much better about our costs.
The next thing that he told me about really floored me beyond belief. In many commercial buildings you see plants of all kinds in order to add a little homey feeling for the customers. Now really . . . it is not homey but it does make people feel a little more relaxed and of course if we are that way we do tend to spend just a little more than when we are up tight. He had live plants, such as trees, medium sized plants and some topiary type plants. They were very pleasant to the eye. The only thing that wasn’t pleasant was the bill that he received month in and month out for the plant service taking care of these plants. One of his workers in his office jokingly told him one day that maybe he should take a couple of his artificial trees down there and see if the plant service can tell the difference. After a few days passed he started thinking more and more about the artificial concept and what it might do to help the overall drama with the bill from the plant service.
After a few months past and much investigation on what effect the whole concept of silk plants might do in solving his problem, he found that overall it would cost more in the beginning just like the light fixtures did, but would pay off in the long run. He made the move and brought in silk trees that had natural trunks and got a lot of the same type plants that the plant service had put there. After working out a schedule for the light maintenance, he was amazed at the projected savings he would have. After about 9 months he had already saved way over what the cost of the live plants and service was taking on a monthly bases. I’m not sure of the total money spent and/or saved, but all I know is that he said the amount did surpass the lighting project. Oh, one other comment he made was that the plants are artificial, but the savings are very real and I love it!
We have seen it work in smaller places in our commercial world and right down to our homes when the budget needs a “real” fixing. Take a look in this area because the savings are not “artificial” over time.
The customers still had that same relaxed way about them and many were so amazed to find that the replacements were silk plants and not real. This is what you will find when you get the better quality products from a quality experienced silk plant dealer. The most amazing items to him were the silk topiary’s that were put in place. With them looking so trimmed and even more real, he got a couple for his home and put them at the front entry; and I do have to say, it was a darn smart decision on his part.
When decorating an interior space, adding life and vivid coloring is essential for creating a welcoming décor. While living plants meet the criteria, they are a hassle to take care of and will inevitably die. A silk plant eliminates all of the muss and fuss associated with living flora and allows you to opt for species that would normally not thrive in your climate.
One of the biggest challenges for any decorator is managing the available space. Utilizing hanging silk flowers allows you to have all of the aesthetic benefit without taking up valuable floor space. You can literally hang them anywhere and never have to worry about it again.
One of the greatest joys over the recent years and something that I will remember for many more years is the excitement my mother showed when she received a flower arrangement. Like most folks in their older years and in a convalescent home they don’t have much and they are so thrilled and excited when they do have a loved one or anyone for that matter, remember them with a gift.
Having the privilege to look after my dear mother was something I looked forward to because I lived about two thousand miles away, and every six weeks I would fly back to spend a week with her. We were very lucky to also have some friends that would see to her needs and visit on a daily bases. Every once in awhile one of them would bring in a single flower and would put it in a tiny vase and this was one of mom’s special moments.
The holidays are so special for families to spend time together and yet the residents of the convalescent homes are much of the time forgotten. We are so busy in our daily lives that we feel that we don’t have the time, but please take 10 to 20 min out and visit someone in a home. A great idea is to show some love with a holiday silk Poinsettia arrangement. Keep the arrangement small and simple and watch the love it brings. Silk poinsettias are allowed in these homes where/as the live ones are not; and silk will last for many years. Another great idea is to share some love by giving a silk wreath to put on their wall and this doesn’t have to be only during the holidays either. The great thing about silk plants is that they will last and look so real for many years; you can get two or three different ones and rotate them among your older loved ones who are in a home.
I have had over the past 20 years or more some kind of silk flowers in my office and it has made the workplace feel a little bit warmer, and in some way it sure helps me to relax in some degree. I’m not what you would call a real flower guy but I do know that when I have not had a plant there, my office just doesn’t seem to be together.
When you are looking for a plant for the office area, there are a couple things that you should keep in mind. Greenery is something that will go with any décor so there is not to much to worry about except maybe size. You don’t want to overwhelm the area and you also don’t need to take up area that you may need for workspace. I have a hanging ivy basket over a filing cabinet area, which is not in the way and it adds so much. The floor space is pretty much taken up so the only other area is on the corner of my desk and a small silk orchid fits just fine
If you have a customer waiting area, please don’t leave them out in the cold. Think of what kind of clientele you have and if you have more female clients maybe an extra silk flower arrangement or two wouldn’t be bad. Again you want to use your floor space wisely and don’t think for a minute that the silk floral décor is a waste. The properly shaped silk tree is very popular but again don’t overwhelm.
My personal feelings are that I want my complete décor to be comfortable feeling and my silk plants to be of good quality and the look of realism. I am real and I treat my customers with the best quality service and that is the whole idea. Your personality should be shown in all aspects of your business.
Is it an artistic piece that is in question? Even if it is the artistic showpiece you will still find that most of your flowers are being shaped in about the same manner as they grow. The things that are different in these is that you may have several species of flowers and/or plants in the same vase that normally does not grow together and may be several different colors.
In the most popular sought after plants in the artificial world, is the natural looking plant or flowers that can be used in the home and our work places to add a touch of warmth to the décor. In these plants you will find that they are in the proper size containers and are designed to look like the live counter parts that they represent. In other words if a flower or a greenery stem grows upward with just a slight curve to it, don’t go bending it 14 different ways thinking you are doing it a favor. It is not natural!
A good way to find out what is natural for plants to grow is, for example, while you are out shopping, stop into the gardening area and look at the live plants that are there. It doesn’t take long and you may just learn something about how to shape that particular silk plant. We are not trying to fool Mother Nature, but instead, to go along with what she has growing.
Find a place that carries a good line of quality silk plants and when you bring your purchases home, whether it is just greenery or greenery and flowers, make sure that they are arranged in their natural state.
Anymore, it is getting harder and harder to tell the difference between some of the silk plants and flowers over the real and live ones. I will give you a sure fire way of telling them apart. Take one of each and set them side-by-side. After about 3 weeks, when one of the plants is starting to bend in places that they are not supposed to bend and they are turning a sad looking yellow and tan color, you can say, “BINGO there is the live one!!” (Or supposed to be live, anyway).
Now, you may be one of those people who have a brown thumb and you just can’t keep the live alive; you do enjoy having plants of all types in your home to lend their hand at accenting your décor. Then don’t worry because there is a solution. Find a place that carries good quality silk plants and you will be amazed at the realism of the many choices you have to pick from.
Now, what are the advantages of having this “brown thumb” you may ask? Well, for one, you have the distinct advantage of not worrying about watering the plants. Because you forgot to water the other ones anyway, and this way you don’t feel like you are wasting your time. Another thing that is good about it is, you don’t need those bags of plant food or fertilizers anymore (which you didn’t know how to use anyway), and this just gives you more room in your storage area. A third advantage is that you can go away on vacation and not have to worry about the plants dying. When you get back home they are still beautiful and elegant looking. There are many more advantages out there. We will let those that can’t even grow mold let us all in on even more advantages.
When you are looking for the replacement plants, make sure that they do have the natural look of the plant in the flora world. We want it to look every bit the part of what we had in mind with the live plants, we just didn’t have the time in our busy schedules to learn how to care for them. There are so many great looking silk plants, silk flower arrangements and even silk trees out there so, don’t fret, there is an easy replacement for your busy schedule. Have fun and enjoy!
Just about everyone loves the holiday season, but the price tag for making it special can add up in a jiffy. Gathering around the table for a holiday meal is a time-honored tradition, and creating the perfect tablescape is a big part of creating enduring memories. Centerpiece silk floral arrangements are a great way save money and ensure that your table looks its best for the holidays.
Instead of buying a new floral centerpiece for every occasion, a silk piece can be used for multiple events. Buying a piece with versatile colors, such as white and blue, will enable you to use it year round. You can add a new touch each time you use is with candles or a few seasonal adornments, such as pine cones or mistletoe.
Even professional interior decorators and designers find decorating a space to be a challenge. The decorator will typically labor over his/her plan for weeks, in the same way that a newlywed will pore over piles of magazines. You want to add a plant to your design but there are places in the house where a live plant is simply impractical. For example, you want a tree in a corner in the family room but you know that watering it might damage the floor and bringing it in and out is a lot of work. This is a case when a silk tree provides the next best solution.
Artificial trees and plants are just as beautiful as live ones. In fact, sometimes you cannot even tell the difference. Most stores carry a wide selection of artificial trees, plants, ferns and ivy. Crafted from quality plastics, they are as elegant as silk. When incorporated with natural wood they look as fresh as the one growing in your garden.
Wreaths are most commonly associated with the winter holidays, when people make their own decorations using evergreen boughs and berries for added color. But there’s no reason to limit one’s enjoyment of wreaths to a few months at the very end of the year. With fall already in full swing, there’s no better time to decorate the home for harvest time and Thanksgiving – and that means a whole new variety of silk wreaths.
Harvest wreaths feature all of the hallmarks of autumn’s natural splendor – the orange and amber leaves, gourds and miniature pumpkins. They make a handsome adornment for an exterior door, acting as a sign of welcome and goodwill for friends and family members. The silk version of these wreaths can be stored for use year after year.